[UPDATED] Body of missing teen 'fished out' of Mayaro beach

TEARS from 14-year-old Sameer Ragbir’s family poured onto the sands of Mayaro beach on May 7 after his body was found by a search and rescue team two days after he disappeared while swimming.

Sameer left his Claxton Bay home on May 5 to go to a nearby beach resort with his siblings to celebrate his sister’s 18th birthday. The siblings, along with Ragbir’s sisters’ two boyfriends, planned to spend the night at the resort.

After arriving at the resort, he decided to go for a sea bath with one of his sisters and her boyfriend. Around 3.30 pm, he began experiencing difficulties and disappeared below the water shortly afterwards. His sister and her boyfriend tried to get help, but no one was able to rescue him.

Commander Wesly Mohammed of Troopers Search and Rescue, who was part of the team searching for Ragbir, told Newsday they found Ragbir’s body at around 11 am after dragging a seine (fishing net) from about 1,200 feet out toward the shore.

“The seine dislodged his body from where it was stuck in the sand and brought it to the surface,” Mohammed said adding Ragbir appeared to have been dragged along the sea bed after he drowned, as there were bruises to his hands and feet and the left side of his face.

His family began to weep as they identified his body which was clad in a grey short pants. Mohammed warned people to be careful when going to the beach, particularly Mayaro, as it can be dangerous owing to the undersea currents this time of year.

“People have to understand there are times of the year that sea purges and this is one of those times. So as long as the sea is doing that, you will find undercurrents.” He said people need to respect the sea and its topography.

“Over the years, due to the erosion of the coastline, Mayaro has become more dangerous.”

Valence Rambharat of Hunters Search and Rescue, who was also part of the searches, shared similar sentiments as he said although Mayaro beach can appear calm, there are a lot of undercurrents caused by an uneven seabed.

"Riptides are very prevalent, so please be cautious and please stay within bathing areas by the lifeguard (booths)."

Rambharat is advocating for a greater lifeguard presence in the area. "Especially in front of these resorts where you have a number of people staying for the weekends, you need to cut your cloth to suit."

"So not just in the bathing areas, but also in front of these resorts and popular areas along the Mayaro coastline."

Mohammed warned people who are not expert swimmers to stay near the shore and not venture beyond the breaking waves.

“You need to be cautious. The beach has no branches, it is unforgiving. If you are not a swimmer, don’t go out,” he warned. The boy's body was removed to the mortuary as arrangements are being made for an autopsy.

Editor's Note: This is an update to an earlier story published online which can be read here.